Learn about African food, history and culture

Africa is home to more unknown history than known. A map of Africa does not begin to show the vastness of people, culture, food, living and ancient history. Established 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are learning tools to meet the demand for better education about the entire continent of Africa.

Monday, April 9, 2018

Chocolate Grows on Trees in Africa

All About African Chocolate Trees

The Greek name for cocoa Theobroma means Food of the gods. What you may not know or even be aware of is the reality of what it takes to get delicious chocolate to market.

The Cacao tree is the source of cocoa beans,
chocolate and so much more in Africa.

Cacao tree is the source of cocoa beans

The chocolate, cacao or cocoa tree grows wild in the forests
of tropical regions but is also one of the tender trees of tropical growth.
West African farmers grow cocoa trees on small farms in tropical environments,
within 15-20 degrees north and south of the equator. Cocoa is a delicate and
sensitive crop, and farmers must protect trees from the wind and sun. They must
also fertilize the soil and watch for signs of distress including attack from
pests and disease. With proper care, most cocoa trees begin to yield pods at
peak production levels by the fifth year, which can continue for another 10
years.

The peak time for harvesting cocoa trees is
between September and December in West Africa. The cacao-tree grows wild in the
forests of tropical regions growing well in humid tropical climates with
regular rains and a short dry season. Ripe pods may be found on cocoa trees at
any time. The outer husk of the pod is split with a sturdy stick and discarded
along with the inner white pulp of the pod. A farmer can expect 20-50 beans per
pod, depending on the variety of cocoa.

According to a study conducted by Tulane
University, the number of children working in the cocoa industry increased by 46
percent in Cote d'Ivoire between 2009 and 2014. The widespread use of children
in cocoa production is controversial, not only for the concerns about child
labor and exploitation but also because, as of 2015, up to 19,000 children
working in Côte d'Ivoire, the world's biggest producer of cocoa, may have been
victims of trafficking or slavery. Cocoa farmers and laborers use long-handled,
mitten-shaped steel tools to reach the pods and snip them without wounding the
soft bark of the tree. All pods are carefully dropped to the ground and collected.

Chocolate smores

Once the beans have been removed from the pods,
the workers pack piles them into mounds. The piles are covered with mats or
banana leaves. The heap method is typically found in Africa. The layer of pulp
that naturally surrounds the beans heats up and ferments the beans.
Fermentation is an important step, lasting three to seven days, that produces
the chocolate flavor we know when the beans are roasted. The beans are then
dried. In the sun, this usually takes several days. In some months, the cocoa
farmer can dry his beans simply by laying them on trays or matting and leaving
them to bask in the sun.

After the beans are dried and packed into large sacks,
the farmer sells to a buying station or local agent. Cocoa is stored in bags or
bulk in the warehouse. The buyer then transports the bags to an exporting
company. The exporting company inspects the cocoa and places it into burlap,
sisal, or plastic bags. The cocoa is transported to the exporter’s warehouse
near a port. Côte d'Ivoire leads the world in the production and export of the
cocoa beans.

West Africa produces 70 percent of the world’s
cocoa beans. Many African countries now grow cocoa trees, Sierra Leone, Cote
d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Congo
but the main producers are Ghana, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire. Cocoa farmers in
West Africa, where 70 percent of the world’s cocoa comes from, can earn as
little as .25 to .50 cents a day.

Did you know?
Following its independence in 1960, Cote d’Ivoire’s stability and the blossoming of its labor-intensive cocoa and coffee industries in the southwest made it an attractive destination for migrants from other parts of the country and its neighbors, particularly Burkina Faso.

Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture
and associated activities, which employ approximately two-thirds of the
population. For the last 5 years, Cote d'Ivoire's growth rate has been among
the highest in the world.

Many Ivoiriens lack
documentation proving their nationality, which prevents them from accessing
education and well-paying jobs birth on Cote d'Ivoire soil does not
automatically result in citizenship.

Thank you for reading how chocolate grows on trees in Africa and how chocolate cocoa bean pods are processed.

Getting to Know more about African food

The African Gourmet creates easy African food recipes for you to enjoy.

African spirituality plays a great part in the history of the world.Do not respond to a mosquito with a hammer because you will miss and hurt yourself. ~ Kenyan Proverb

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Africa is home to more unknown history than known. A map of Africa does not begin to show the vastness of people, culture, food, living and ancient history of the African continent. Established 2008 Chic African Culture is a learning tool to meet the demand for better education about the entire continent of Africa.

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Why are we here? Since its founding in 2008, Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet goal is to highlight Africa through her food and culture.